Cast rail crossing structure



March 16, 1948. Q NORDBERG CAST RAIL CROSSING STRUCTURE Filed May 23, 1944 lllllll 1 'are formed to receive the rails 36, 38 with Patented Mar. 16, 1948 STATE OFFICE CAST RAIL CROSSING STRUCTURE Charles H. Nordberg, Chicago Heights, 111., as-

signor to Pettibone Mulliken Corporation, a corporation of Illinois 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved construction for railroad crossings and the like.

Cast crossings are of two types, the one type comprising a cast member or members of boxlike or shell section and adapted to be bounded by rolled rail. The cast member is preferably of manganese alloy steel. This type of construction is known in the trade as rail-bound insert construction. In the other type, the entire crossing may be of cast manganese alloy steel, or the like, also of box-like or shell section. This type of construction is known as solid construction. The present invention is adapted for both such types.

These types of devices, heretofore, have been subject to a number of drawbacks which manufacturers have constantly attempted to overcome. For example, in crossings of box-like section, even Where provided with certain types of interior reinforcing means, there is a tendency to produce shrinkage cavities in the metal. Moreover, the disposition of the strengthening means was such that fatigue cracking often resulted from repeated flexing of the casting under passing trains.

The present invention has for a principal object the provision of a structure for crossings and the like, which avoids the disadvantages to which reference has been made.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, claims and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a crossing constructed in accordance with one form of the invention;

Figure Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a crossing constructed in accordance with another form of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figures '1 and 2 illustrate 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of the application of some features of the invention of a manganese alloy steel railroad crossing element 34 which may be formed as an integrally cast box-like or shell-like structure. The arms of the structure portions til, d2, respectively, of these rails. Rail guard members 4, 45 may be employed to insure that the flanges of the car wheels are properly directed to the fiangeways 48, 50 formed in the upper surface of crossing element 34. The crossing element 34, rail guards and rails are adapted to be supported on base plates 35 supported in turn by ties or the like (not shown).

While box-like crossing elements have been provided with interior strengthening means heretofore, an important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of improved strengthening means, particularly at the center of the crossing element 34. In addition to the arcuate, transverse ribs 52, 54, 56 and 58 such means are comprised of the single strengthening rib 60 which is bent at right angles at the exact center of the crossing element. These strengthening means are shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and some of them are also shown in the section, Figure 2.

It will be noted that the strengthening rib 60 is disposed directly beneath the fiangeways 48, 50 thus eliminating sagging eflect by giving real support at the points of the crossing subjected to heaviest punishment. The webs 52, 54, 5'8 and 58 do not extend to the under surface of the top of the crossing (see Figure 2).

Additional strengthening webs may be provided for the arms of the crossing, such as for example,

those indicated by the numerals 62, 64, in Figure 1.

The modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is generally similar to that just described. Arcuate strengthening webs 6B, 68, I0 and 12 are employed. The crossing element is formed with a strengthening r'b 14 which is disposed directly beneath the fiangeway it and extends from web 66 to web 19. Another strengthening rib I8 is disposed beneath the fiangeway 8i] and extends adjacent to but does not meet with the rib 14. The rib 18 connects at its other end to the web 68. A third web 28, also disposed beneath the flangeway 80, extends from the rib 12 to apoint adjacent to, but not meeting with, the rib 14. This structure thus eliminates shrinkage cracks and at the same time enables the crossing to be light in structure with all the necessary strength provided at the points where strength is required.

It is apparent that the inventive features disclosed may be applied to cast crossing inserts adapted to be bound by ,bolts and the like to standard rail sections.

While various types of steel may be employed for the crossing structures described, manganese steel alloys have been found to be admirably suited to the purpose as the pounding such elements receive in usage only improves the toughness of the metal and, in fact, increases the period of usefulness of the devices.

While I have described and shown several'prewheel flangeways which cross. at the central porrtion of the element, and at least one integrally cast vertical strengthening rib depending central- 1y from the base of the fiangewaysand running longitudinally thereof, a portion of said rib being positioned directly beneath the intersection of said fiangeways,

2. An integrally'cast steel railroad crossing-element comprising atop having a central portion and armlike portions-extending outwardly therefrom, supporting'side walls extending around the contour of the top and :depending therefrom, the upper surface of said top being provided with car wheel fiangeways which cross at the-central portion of the element, and at leastone integrally cast vertical strengthening rib depending centrally from the base of the flangeways and-running longitudinally thereof, said rib extending vertically downwardly. to the plane of the lower edges of saidrsiderwallsiand being disposed direct- 1y beneath the "intersection of said .flangewa-ys;

3. An integrally cast steel railroad-crossing ele ment comprisinga top-having a central portion and armlike portions extending outwardly -therefrom, supporting side walls extending around :the

contour of the top and depending therefrom, the

upper surfaceof said top being provided WithrCflI wheel fiangeways which :cross at the :central ,portion of the element, arcuate transverse strengthening websconnecting the sidewalls :of the;armlike portions adjacent said central portion, and

at 'leastone integrally roast vertical strengthening;

ri-b depending centrally from the base of a flangeway and running longitudinally thereof, saidi'rib being positioned :directly beneath the intersection of saidfiangeways and lhavinga-t 18.-S.l).'f0l'l6 :0f itsends joined toa strengthening web.

4. Anintegrally cast steel railroad-crossing element comprising a top having a central portion,

and arm'like portions extending outwardly :therefrom, supporting side walls extendingaround the contour of the top-and depending therefrom, the upper surface of said top beingprovided with car wheelfiangeways, which cross at the'central portion of the element, arcuate transverse strengthening webs connecting the side walls of thearm-like portions adjacent saidcentral'portion, and at least one integrally cast vertical strengthening rib depending centrally from the base of a iflangeway andrunning longitudinally thereof, saidrib extending vertically downwardly to the plane of the lower edges-of said-side walls and having at least 13m ofiitsrends joined to a strengthening web, said rib extending directly be neath the intersection of :saidzflangeways,

5. An integrallytcast steel railroad crossing element comprising a .tophaving acentral portion and arm-like portions extending outwardly therefrom supportingside walls extending around the contour ofthe topand depending therefrom,,.the upper surface ofrsaid top being {provided with car,- wheel fiangeways which cross-at'the central portion of the element, arcuate transverse strengthening webs connecting the side walls of the armlike portions adjacent said center portion, and an integrally cast vertical strengthening rib depending centrally from the base of a flangeway and running from one of said webs longitudinally of the flangeway to the point of crossing with another fiangeway and thenlongitudinally of said last named'flangeway andmmnecting with another of said webs.

.6. An integrally cast steel railroad crossing element comprising a top having a central portion and'arm-like portions extending outwardly therefrom, supporting side walls extending aronndithe contour of the top and depending therefrom, the :upper surface of said top being provided with car wheel fiangeways which cross at the central portion of the element, arcuate transverse strengthening webs connecting the side walls of the arm-like portions adjacent said center portion, and an integrally cast vertical strengtheningrib depending centrally from the baseofa fiangeway and running from one of said webs longitudinally-of the flangeway to the point of :crossing with another fiangeway and then longitudinally of said last named flangeway and connecting with another of said webs, said strengthening rib extending downwardly to the planelof the loweredgeof said side walls.

'7; An integrally cast steel railroad crossing element comprising a top having a central portion and-arm-like portions extending outwardly therefrom, supportingside walls extending around the contour of the top and depending therefrom, the upper surface of said top being provided with car wheel flangeways which cross at the central portionof the element, arcuate transverse strengthening websconnecting the side walls of the armlike portions adjacent said center portion, .andan integrally cast vertical strengthening rib depending centrally from the base of a flangeway andrunning from one of said webs longitudinally of thefiangeway across the center portion of the element to another of said webs, and similar strengthening ribs extending from others of said strengthening webs longitudinally of other flangeways to points adjacent but spaced from said first mentioned strengthening rib.

8. An integrally cast steel railroad crossing element comprising atop. having-a central portion and armlike portions extending outwardly therefrom, supporting side walls extending around the contour of the top and depending therefrom, the upper surfaceof said top being provided with car wheel fiangeways which cross-at the central portion of the element, arcuate transverse strengthening webs-connecting the side walls of the armlike portions adjacent said center portion, and an integrallycast vertical strengthening rib dependingcentrally from the base of a flangeway and running from one of said webs longitudinally of the fiangeway across the center portion of the element to another of said webs, and similar strengthening ribs extending from others of said strengthening webs longitudinally of other flangewaysto points adjacent but spaced from said first mentioned strengthening rib, saidstrengthening ribs extending downwardly to the plane of the lower edges of saidside walls.

9; Anrintegrally cast steel railroad crossing element comprising a top having a central portion and armlike portions extending outwardly therefrom, supporting side walls extending around the contour of the top and-depending therefrom, the'upper surface of said top being provided with car wheel flangeways which cross at the central 5 portion of the element, arcuate transverse strengthening webs connecting the side walls of the arm-like portions adjacent said center portion, and an integrally cast vertical strengthening rib depending centrally from the base of a flangeway and running from one of said webs longitudinally of the fiangeway across the center portion of the element to another of said webs, and similar strengthening ribs extending from others of said strengthening webs longitudinally of other flangeways to points adjacent but spaced from said first mentioned strengthening rib, said strengthening ribs extending downwardly to the plane of the lower edges of said side walls, said strengthening webs having their upper edges spaced from the under surface of said top.

CHARLES H. NORDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Re. 15,823 935,205 1,049,575 1,121,305 1,442,920 2,024,566 2,2 18,603 2,346,377 2,354,880

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

